[Roy]

I chatted this all through with Cheltenham HD while getting a price on the parts and they [as a previous post stated] that HD have withdrawn the need for the IPB to be replaced at every 15k service. The reason it was in the book is a safety issue, so they requested stealerships change the bearing and then send them back to HD for analysis. Apparently over a period of time, many were sent back and none found to be faulty. Hence the withdrawl.

The main load of the gearbox main shaft (which then goes through the rear belt pulley and into the clutch is taken up on the load bearing on the primary side of the gearbox. Then the IPB and the bearing on the outer cover of the gearbox are 'supporting bearings'.

Mechanic listened to my bike and heard nothing that would indicate my IPB is on its way out, so I won't be changing it.

What I will be doing, on this weekends 20k, is dragging a magnet through the old oil to ensure there are no iron filings etc.

Anyway, thanks for answering questions and advice etc